Dr. Ernest Kelley

Dr. Ernest J. Kelley, Jr. passed away at his home in Alpharetta, GA. on November 20, 2025. He was 97 years old.
When Ernest was 16, he surrendered his life to the Lord and was ordained into ministry in 1947. He graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and earned a Doctorate from Golden Gate Seminary.
He was pastor to churches in Georgia, Oklahoma, and Tennessee, and interim pastor to more than 30 churches. Even after he left fulltime ministry, most Sundays Ernest was in the pulpit fulfilling his call, sharing the Gospel in churches across the
South. In 78 years of ministry, he led evangelical revivals in Germany, Australia, Guam, and Samoa, and led mission tours in nearly every state in the U.S. and in Korea, Hong Kong, China, South Africa, and Canada.
In 1965 he was called to the staff of the Georgia Baptist Convention of the Southern Baptist Convention and served 17 years. While there he created innovative programs to evangelize minority communities including Cuban refugees, hearing impaired, and African Americans. In 1978 he moved to the Home Mission Board, SBC and retired from the North American Mission Board (NAMB) in 1997. In those years he served as a Regional Coordinator, Executive VP/CFO, Interim President, and was tirelessly committed to using mission offerings to best honor the Lord.
Ernest loved traveling with his family in the station wagon and camper, hiking, and exploring new places. An avid reader, he especially enjoyed American history and western novels. He loved woodworking, his rose garden, and Hank, his cat. He
devoted early mornings to reading and studying The Word, and after becoming visually impaired, Ernest listened to The Bible on tape several hours a day. In the last months, after losing Eleanor, his beloved wife of 70 years, his greatest comfort
was prayer and Scripture. He loved people and shared Jesus with all who would listen. He was a published author, "GOD-LIFE – How to Live a Christ-like Life."
Ernest was preceded in death by Eleanor, his parents Ernest and Mary Kelley, and sister, Grace (Gene) Jones. He is survived by his devoted daughters, Susan Kelley and Karen (Colin) Maloney.
His home-going celebration service will be at Ewton Funeral Home, 6936 Hwy 28, Dunlap, TN, on Tuesday, December 2, 2025. Visitation will commence at 12:00 p.m. CST, with a service following at 1:00 p.m. CST. Interment will be at Chapel Hill Cemetery, Dunlap, followed by fellowship at Ewton Funeral Home.
All are welcome to attend.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Ernest's name to: The Kelley Appalachian Fund, NAMB, PO Box 116543, Atlanta, GA 30368-6543 or, Hope Church Union Hill, 11877 Douglas Road, Suite 251, Johns Creek, GA
30005.